Alkylated chalcone derivatives and methods of preparing the same



Aug, 5, 1947.

C. W. WILSON ALKYLATED CHALCONE DERIVATIVES AND IBTHQDS OF PREPARING THE SAME Filed March 3, 1944 I AS souRcs MATERIALS FLA VA'IVOIVE GLXC 05/ DES A HFSPFR/DM/ ADD ALKYLA-T/IVG a wzoz no (i001. AND [MUST 70 05 a 0mm! 5111mm 4; mm I450, ORMOH EXTRACT wm/ 50L mvf WAS/z EXTRACTS Maury: Al. (OI/0t 4s WIT/Y DIST/1L5!) WATER.

E mPoRATg T07 nnm'zss a; 01mm VACUUM IIVVEIVTOR 'cLA REA 0:" WALTER WILSOA/ ATTOR vzr Patented- Aug. 5, 194'.

ALKYLATED CHALCONE DERIVATIVES AND METHODS OF PREPARING THE SAME Clarence Walter Wilson, Norco, Calil., assignor to California Fruit Growers Exchange, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Califo nia Application March 3, 1944, Serial No. 524,870

12 Claims.

1 This invention relates more particularly to substances having physiological and therapeutic properties and to methods'of preparation of the same, being broadly directed to alkoxyl substituted chalcone glycosides derived from the corresponding fiavanone glycosides and being more specifically and especially directed to a methylated chalcone oi hesperidin; these being, especially the latter, substances which are apparently capableof having physiological activity, e. g., of reducing, or at least inducing the reduction of, capillary fragility and/or capillary permeability. Accordingly, this invention has as an object the preparation of alkoxyl substituted chalcone glycosldes derived from the corresponding fiavanone glycosides.

It has as a further object the preparation from fiavanone glycosides of substances which are acid 2 definite alkalinity during the methylation procedure under these conditions. the mixture is cooled and adjusted to below neutrality, and suitably to about pH 5.0, by the addition of sulfuric acid, indicated at 4 in the drawing.

At this point a volume of butyl alcohol, suitably equal to the volume of the mixture, is added, step 5, during which agitation is desirably continued. The butyl alcohol is then separated from the mixture by known means, as for example, by any apparatus which has a function equivalent to that of a separatory funnel. The butyl alcohol 3 extraction is desirably repeated several times to stable, water soluble, and physiologically active.

It is a further object of this invention to prepare alkylated derivatives of the chalcones derived from citrus flavanone glycosides.

These and further objects and advantages will appear more fully to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the invention as set forth in the following description and in the appended claims. A precise nature of my invention and a specific embodiment thereof will be clear from the following detailed example, after the description of which I shall indicate a broader ambit within which the principles involved may be operable and shall delineate theoretical considerations which may be implied.

The drawing is a flow sheet containing an illustrative showing of my preferred process.

As a source material, for a preferred embodiment I choose'to take hesperidln, indicated at I. The preparation of the methylated chalcone of hesperidi n may then be carried on as follows: The hesperidin is converted to the corresponding chalcone form by being dissolved in a sufiicient quantity of sodium hydroxide solution, indicated at 2, To this solution there is added, drop- 'wise on a small scale, or in equivalent manner on a larger scale, and with agitation, the desired amount of dimethyl sulfate. This is step 3 of the flow sheet shown in the drawing. I havefound itsuitable to base the amounts of reactants used on the following as a molar relationship. T e molecular weight of hesperidin is taken as 610. For each one-fourth mole of hesperidin, I

improve recovery, each time preferably using lesser volumes of the alcohol. These alcohol extractions are combined and washed with distilled water, step 6, to remove contaminating salt and acid. The solution of methylated hesperidin chalcone is then evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, step I.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art of necessary amounts serves only to increase the cost of manufacture. I

The dried residue maybe further purified if required. To accomplish this it is dissolved in methyl alcohol and the methyl chalcone of hesperidin is suitably precipitated therefrom by the addition of an amount of cold absolute isopropyl alcohol equal to about 4 or 5 times the volume of methyl alcohol used to dissolve the methyl chal cone. The resulting precipitate is filtered from the mother liquor and dried, preferably first in a vacuum chamber and finally in a drying oven at about 40 to 50 C.

The process outlined above gives a relatively pure product, but I have found that some quantities of the methyl .chalcone of hesperidin are od, therefore, I have found that the process may advantageously be carried on as above, to and may use one mole of sodium hydroxide and one find it preferable to maintain at least a fairly including the step of adjusting the pH of the reaction mixture to below neutrality. The mixture is then vacuum concentrated to a heavy syrup.

This syrup is then cooled and suflicient absolute methyl alcohol is added to it to extract or remove the methylated chalcone from the salts. .This

extraction may be assisted by gently warming the mixture. The extract is separated and-allowed to stand for a time suflicient to permit After a period 3 crystallization of salts. These crystalsare then...

filtered from the solution. The filtered solution is then concentrated to about one-third of its original volume and to this is added with rapid agitation about 4 volumes of cold absolute isopropyl alcohol. The yellow precipitate of methyl chalcone is filtered therefrom and'dried as above. An additional quantity of the chalcone may be obtained by evaporating the alcoholic mother liquor to dryness under vacuum.

The methyl chalcone of hesperidin is a yellow substance readily soluble in water, in methyl alcohol, and in acetone, and slightly soluble in absolute isopropyl alcohol, or normal butyl alcO- hol. It is almost insoluble in either benzene or petroleum ether. It is relatively stable and retains its physiological activity well. It does not revert to hesperidin when sterilized in neutral or slightlyacid solutions or under other conditions which cause reversion of hesperidin chalcone.

As mentioned hereinabove, the methylated chalcone of hesperidin is useful to reduce capillary fragility and/or capillary permeability and is useful for other therapeutic purposes. In addition to the application of this flavanone-like substance in reducing capillary. fragility and/or permeability, it may also serve as a valuable ad- Juvant in the intensive arsenical therapy in syphilis. It seems that, in particular, the use of the 7 methyl chalcone of hesperidin offsets the compli- I therefore regard the methyl hesperidin chai cone as the most immediately promising specific embodiment of my invention.

For the sake of clarity, I shall, in considering the broader aspects of the applicability of the principles involved in my processes, refer by numbers to the portions thereof indicated by corresponding numbers in the flow sheet.

Burl

I find as suitable starting materials for the preparation of my desired products the flavanone glycosides, particularly those occurring in citrus. Of these, the two most commonly identified have been hesperidin and naringin.

Hesperidin has the empirical formula CuHuOu and can now with little or no doubt be assigned the following structural formula:

Hesperidin In this formula the sugar residue contains one molecule of rhamnose and one molecule of glucose. Hesperidin is a natural glycoside apparently occurring in most citrus fruits. While perhaps the most prolific source of hesperidin is the piricalformula CszHsrOu and apparently having the structural formula:

Narinain o H I Sugar residue-O- OH H,

It apparently diflers from hesperidin only in the absence of the methoxyl group at the-4' position and the shift of the hydroxyl group to this position. One of the most prolific sources is the peel and rag of the grapefruit. It is also reported to occur in relatively large quantities in the leaves. This glycoside seems so far only to have been reported as obtained from the grapefruit, which is variously identified as Citrus arandis, Osbeck, and Citrus decumana, Linn. (The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, The Mac- Millan Company, 1935) and identified as derived from Citrus maxima (Webster's New International Dictionary, second edition). One recent worker has reported naringin as appearing in Indian shaddock, which is apparently a clearly Eriodictin 0 H 0 H Sugar residue-O OH Eriodictin according to this view, is theoretically capable of being formed by the demethylation of hesperidin.

I Citronin, with the empirical formula CuHuOu, and the probable structural formula:

Citronin OCH:

Eu er residue-0 in which the sugar residue is apparently a rhamnogluccside, as in hesperidin, and in which there is some question as to whether the methoxyl r p. Hs. is in the 2 or the 3' position, is obtained from the peel of lemon ponderosa, Citrus limon. Burm. f. ponderosa Hort.

albedo of the citrus fruit, some has been found gs Neohesperldin. isoiatedfrom bitter oranges, ap-

Neohesperidtn H Giuco-O 0cm Rhamno- 0 It is thus seen that the principal commercial sources of the flavanone glycosides are citrus fruits. 4

Sakuranin, having th empirical formula CzzHaOm, and the probable structural formula:

Sakuranin n o moo Oon has been isolated from the bark of the Prunus yedoensis Matsumura.

Liquiritin, with the empirical formula CzrH-zzOa,

and the apparent structural formula:

Liquiritin H -C O-Gluco is obtained from the root of the licorice. Glycyrrhiza glabra L. var. glandulz'lera.

Star 2 Substances which produce strongly alkaline aqueous solutions are employed. I prefer the alkali metal hydroxides and the alkaline earth hydroxides. The general order of alkalinity suitable is indicated by the use of 20% NaOH in the specific example, Whatever reagent is employed must have adequate alkalizing effect. And enough of it must be employed for this purpose and to satisfy the reaction requirements of the quantities of the other reagents employed, for example, the dimethyl sulfate.

In starting with the flavanone glycosides, and in operating upon, as a specific example, hesperidin, the solution in the strong alkali performs the important function of converting the havenone tohesperidin chalcone. This may be considered as converting the compound from the structural formula given first above to a compound having the following structural formula:

Sugar residue-OfiOH 0H t I.

. Y5. H H I It will be at once observed that this formula exhibits three phenolic hydroxyl groups; and it is to be assumed that thes'olution in strong alkali causes these to exist actually as phenolates. It

is possible however, by careful manipulation, to

6 recover a portion of the hesperidin chalcone as such, without having caused therein the closing again of the ring.

It has been found that the pure hesperidin.

which is almost water insoluble, though considered by some to be physiologically active, does not exhibit "marked effects on either the blood pressure or the fragility of capillaries. This lack of activity may be due to the water insolubility of the pure hesperidin. However, the chalcone prepared from the pure hesperidin is active. This latter substance is not, however, suitable for administration by injection because of the impossibility of sterilizing such solutions without causing closing of the ring, which brings about precipitation of hesperidin. -Hesperidin chalcone,

which gives a relatively neutral solution, easily reverts to hesperidin on heating in neutral water solution or even on long storage in the dry state, thus it is too unstable for pharmaceutical use. Other water soluble forms of hesperidin such as the alkali and alkaline earth salts while readily soluble, yield solutions having a pH of 10.0 or higher.

It appeared, therefore, that even though the nature and chemical constitution of the substances which are physiologically active to reduce capillary fragility and/or permeability were known,'no satisfactory means of using the substances, except perorally, was heretofore availapparently does not impair its physiological ac-.

tivity but which will make it adaptable for pharmaceutical and therapeutic uses. I accomplish this by the alkylation process herein described.

STEP 3 Since I intend my products to be suitable for use in the animal body, 1. e., for treatment of bodily disorders, I prefer to make the end products water soluble; and indeed I ordinarily perform the process in aqueous solution. Therefore I prefer to use the lower members of the homologous series as alkylating agents.

My end product strongly resists, or does not exhibit at all, the usual tendency of the chalcone t'o undergothe ring closure reaction. This tendency is normally exhibited when the chalcone has been freed from the alkali which was attached to it in the so-called salt or phenolate form. This tendency, which is present in neutral solutions, becomes much more noticeable in slightly acid solutions, especially with gentle warming. The strong resistance which my products exhibit to undergoing the ring closure in neutral or acid solutions, I refer to herein and in the appended claims as being "acid stable."

Since the methylatedhesperidin chalcone possesses this property, it may be presumed that the product has assumed the following structure:

Sugar residue-0 OCHa (|)H O H H sition, since obviously alkylation may also be effected at the 2' position or the 8 position, as well as in the sugar residue. Furthermore, since, as

indicated, I am particularly interested in the water solubility of the alirylated product, I do not choose to alkylate to such an extent that, orto add those alkyl groups which contain a sufiiciently large number of carbon atoms that, the solubility of the resulting compound will be materially reduced. Also, I wish to point out that alkylation may be eflected by the addition of different alkoxyl groups, that is for example, I may methylate and ethylate simultaneously or successively, thereby adding methoxyl and ethoxyl groups at the positions occupied by the hydroxyl groups in the hesperidin chalcone molecule or other chalcone.

Dimethyl sulfate has been given above as an example of a methylating agent which has been highly successful in this particular relationship. Obvious equivalents for putting in methoxyl or other alkoxyl groups are intended to be included. Alkyl halides are known agents for this purpose. Diazomethane is also a recognized agent for this purpose. It is used in non-aqueous systerm, for example. in ether, which is not, however, a good solvent for hesperidin.

I wish to emphasize at this point that I prefer in adding the alkylating agent to add it at such a rate and under such other conditions, for example with agitation, as will avoid destructive temperature rise and will also avoid local overconcentration of the reagent.

Bras 4 The cooling may be done in any convenient manner.

The pH adjustment will ordinarily be done with an acid. Sulfuric is indicated in the preferred example as being in all respects compatible with the other components of the reaction system. Where alkalinity has not been maintained up to the end of the alkylation but the system has been allowed to drift over definitely to the acid side, it may be necessary at this point to add alkali to adjust the pH to about 5.

Bur 5 Butyl alcohol is chosen for the specific example because it possesses in good degree the desired properties. Important among these properties are good solvent action on the desired end prodnot of the reaction, low solvent action on any undesired end products, and low solubility of the solvent itself in water. Apparently the solvent must be of an oxygenated type to dissolve the product.

Bur 6 The washing step may perhaps be only slightly preferred, and as a matter of convenience. As pointed out above, a little of the product will be lost at this stage; but this under usual circumstances will probably be worth while nevertheless, as getting rid of impurities, salts, etc.

Brsr 'l' 1. An acid stable, water soluble chalcone glycoside having the following general formula:

on a, R. 4

MHHGR. l

wherein R is a lower alkyl group, R1, It: and Rs are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, lower alkoxyl, glycoside and lower alkoxylated glycoside residues, and at least one thereof being selected from the group consisting of glycoside and. lower alkoxylated glycoside residues,-and Re and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, and lower alkoxyl.

2. The products defined in claim 1 wherein R. is a methyl group, R1, R2 and Rs are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, methoxyl, glycoside and methylated glycoside residues, and at least one thereof being selected from the group consisting of glycoside and methylated glycoside residues, and Re and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, and methoxyl.

8. An acid stable, water soluble chalcone glycoside having the following general formula:

wherein R is a lower alkyl group and R1, R2, and R: are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and lower alkoxyl groups and X is selected from the group consisting of glycoside residues and lower alkoxylated glycoside residues.

4. The products defined in claim 3 wherein R is a methyl group and R1, R2, and R: are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and methoxyl, and X is selected from the group consisting of glycoside residues and methylated glycoside residues.

5. An acid stable, water soluble chalcone slycoside having the following general formula:

wherein R is a lower alkyl group and R1, Rs are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and lower alkoiwl groups and X is selected from the group consisting of glycoside residues and lower alkoxylated glycoside residues.

6. The products of claim 5 wherein R is a methyl group and R1 and R: are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and methotyl groups and X is selected from the group consisting of glycoside residues and methylated glycoside residues.

7. A process for preparing the products defined in claim 1 which comprises dissolving a fiavanone lycoside in a strongly alkaline solution to convert the fiavanone to a chalcone phenolate and adding an alkylatins agent to the solution of the phenolate to form lower alkoxyl groups therein, and recovering the alkylated chalcone.

8. A method for preparing the products defined ln claim 2 which comprises dissolving a fiavanone glycoside in a strongly alkaline solution to convert the fiavanone to a chalcone phenolate and adding a methylating agent to the solution or the phenolate to form methoxyl groups therein, and recovering the methoxylated chalcone.

9. A method for preparing the products defined in claim 3 which comprises dissolving hesperidin in a strongly alkaline solution to convert the hesperidin to chalcone form in solution as a phenolate and adding an alkylating agent to the solution of the. phenolate to convert at least one of the phenolic groups to lower alkoxyl groups and recovering the alkylated chalcone.

10. A process for preparing the compounds defined in claim 4 which comprises dissolving hesperidin in a strongly alkaline solution to convert the hesperidin to chalcone form in solution as a phenolate and adding a methylating agent to 10 nolate and adding an alkylating agent to the solution of the phenolate to convert at least one of the phenolic groups to lower alkoxyl group and recovering the alkylated chalcone.

12. A process for preparing the compounds defined in claim 6 which comprises dissolving naringin in a strongly alkaline solution to convert the naringin to chaicone form'in solution as a phenolate and adding a methylating agent to the solution of phenolate to convert at least one of the phenolic groups to methoxyl and recovering the methoxylated chalcone.

CLARENCE-WALTER WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I file of this patent:

Chemical Abstracts, vol. 9, pages 1317, 1318. (Copy in U. S. Patent Ofiflce, Scientific Library, Washington, D. C.)

Chemical Abstracts, vol. 20, page 593. (Copy in U. SQPatent Oillce, Scientific Library, Washington, D. C.) 

